Study for 'Widow's Prayer': Female Figure

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Drawing details

Title: Study for 'Widow's Prayer': Female Figure
Date: c.1864-65
Media: Black and white chalk on blue paper
Dimensions: 23.8 x 32.0 cm
Location: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Picture credit: Ashmolean Museum, Oxford
Reference number: WA1935.141
Inscriptions: Inscribed, lower centre "In S. Marks" in pencil. Inscribed, upper left "3" in pencil. Inscribed, centre left "4" in pencil. Stamped, lower left "LLC" encircled, in black ink. Inscribed on reverse, centre "B26" encircled, in pencil. Inscribed on rever

Interpretation

There are several pin holes along the centre of the top edge of this drawing, probably made when the artist pinned the drawing to a stand in order to refer to it whilst painting.

Description

Centre of sheet: full-length study for the figure of a kneeling female figures in prayer, to the left of the painting 'Widow's Prayer' (c.1864-65, London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham). Upper right of sheet: half-length study of the kneeling female figure. The torso appears to be nude but drapery falls from her head. 

Provenance

Bequeathed by the artist to his sisters, Mrs. Augusta Matthews (nTe Augusta Neunburg Leighton, 1835-1919) and Mrs. Alexandra Orr (nTe Alexandra Leighton, 1828-1903); purchased by the Fine Art Society in 1896 (Fine Art Society reference number B26); purchased by the Ashmolean Museum in 1935